Agree with "reader andresy" I am also ran into this novel after hearing a columnist on France Info race over the "Pillars of the Earth" ... Failed. It is well written, the novel reads quickly and is rarely boring. Surgical techniques of the era very well described, very documented. More ... The characters do not have the depth of those of the novel by Ken Follett. It was a little difficult to focus on them: the good guys are very very nice, the (few) bad bad bad, and this little world is ultimately not very credible. Nicolas Deruet is slightly annoying with his side too perfect, selfless, idealistic, sober, educated, ... not a vice, not a fault: not possible. Finally, the plots do not adequately breathless: each outstanding flies fast enough, each is confused too quickly resolved. Moral: Beware of over-enthusiastic columnists!
